Optimal simple rules and the lower bound on the nominal interest rate in the Christiano–Eichenbaum–Evans model of the US business cycle

Schmitt-Grohé and Uribe (NBER wp 10724, 2004b) analyzes the optimal, simple and implementable monetary policy rules in a medium-scale macromodel, as the one proposed by Christiano et al. (J Polit Econ 113:1–45, 2005). In doing so, they use a sensible, but somewhat arbitrary constraint to account for the lower bound condition on the nominal interest rate. In this work, we check the robustness of their main results to such a criteria. We find that the optimal policies are actually absolutely robust to the easing of this criterion for all the diff erent cases considered.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mutational screening of splicing factor genes in cases with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE: Mutations in genes encoding proteins from the tri-snRNP complex of the spliceosome account for more than 12% of cases of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). Although the exact mechanism by which splicing factor defects trigger photoreceptor death is not completely clear, their role in retinitis pigmentosa has been demonstrated by several genetic and functional studies. To test for possible novel associations between splicing factors and adRP, we screened four tri-snRNP splicing factor genes (EFTUD2, PRPF4, NHP2L1, and AAR2) as candidate disease genes. METHODS: We screened up to 303 patients with adRP from Europe and North America who did not carry known RP mutations. Exon-PCR and Sanger methods were used to sequence the NHP2L1 and AAR2 genes, while the sequences of EFTUD2 and PRPF4 were obtained by using long-range PCRs spanning coding and non-coding regions followed by next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: We detected novel missense changes in individual patients in the sequence of the genes PRPF4 and EFTUD2, but the role of these changes in relationship to disease could not be verified. In one other patient we identified a novel nucleotide substitution in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of NHP2L1, which did not segregate with the disease in the family. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of clearly pathogenic mutations in the candidate genes screened in our cohort suggests that EFTUD2, PRPF4, NHP2L1, and AAR2 are either not involved in adRP or are associated with the disease in rare instances, at least as observed in this study in patients of European and North American origin

Informação, a melhor forma de incentivar a mulher a tornar-se protagonistas de suas escolhas

Trabalho apresentado no II Congresso Nacional do PROJETO RONDON, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 23 a 25 de setembro de 2015 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.Introdução: Segundo dados do ano de 2011, da Política Nacional de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher, a maior parte da população brasileira é do sexo feminino, motivo pelo qual considerou-se relevante a propositura de ações que motivassem a valorização da mulher Arariense, em vários e amplos aspectos, podendo-se citar como exemplos, a saúde reprodutiva, em consequência a maternidade, saúde e doenças de outros sistemas que não o reprodutivo, e, além das questões biológicas da mulher, o enfrentamento das desigualdades sociais e de gênero. Após esta análise, fez-se relevante a propositura, e posterior efetivação desta atividade, realizada no Rondon 2015.1 Operação Jenipapo, que preconizou atender a mulher no maior número possível de questões, em todos os seus âmbitos anteriormente citados, ou na maioria deles. Metodologia: A fim de atingir esse objetivo, a atividade foi planejada e posteriormente realizada em cinco módulos, que foram apresentados num total de oito horas de curso, tais quais, autoconhecimento físico e psicológico, câncer de colo de útero e de mama, doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, planejamento familiar com discussão de métodos anticoncepcionais e direitos da mulher. Para o efetivo desenvolvimento da proposta utilizou-se de materiais, como Datashow e caixa de som, para exposição de imagens e vídeos, protótipos, dos órgãos sexuais feminino e masculino, e material bibliográfico como cartilhas informativas relacionadas à saúde e a Lei Maria da Penha, além de preservativos para posterior distribuição entre as presentes. A metodologia ainda deu-se de forma dinâmica, por meio de perguntas (para o grupo ou para pessoas direcionadas), relato de experiências e manuseio do material, a fim de que as participantes não se intimidassem e pudessem aproveitar as informações e tirarem dúvidas. Resultado/Discussão: Tornar a mulher protagonista do auto-cuidado, além de empoderá-la a conhecer seu real papel e importância na sociedade e dentro da família da qual faz parte, por meio do conhecimento de seus direitos e deveres como cidadã foi a principal proposta desta ação. Sendo a metodologia dinâmica, instigante e participativa, o objetivo da atividade foi cumprido, tendo, ao final das atividades propostas, o número total de 50 mulheres presentes, de todas as faixas etárias, gestantes ou não. Conclusão: A ação possibilitou que as participantes se tornassem mais conscientes sobre a sua saúde e sua sexualidade como um todo. Estas informações, muitas vezes novas, aliadas às informações de seus Direitos contribuem para que as mesmas se tornassem protagonistas de suas escolhas

Vinblastine, bleomycin, and methotrexate chemotherapy plus irradiation for patients with early-stage, favorable Hodgkin lymphoma - The experience of the gruppo italiano studio linfomi

BACKGROUND. The acknowledged effectiveness of vinblastine, bleomycin, and methotrexate (VBM) chemotherapy in patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma has been associated with conflicting toxicity reports. METHODS. One hundred forty-three patients were evaluated clinically and had favorable Stage IA or IIA Hodgkin lymphoma. Ninety-three patients were treated with the standard VBM schedule combined with extended-field radiotherapy (EFRT), leaving the choice of the therapeutic sequence free. Fifty subsequent patients were treated with a slightly modified VBM schedule (VbMp) combined with RT limited to involved fields (IF-RT) and delivered only after the end of chemotherapy. In the VbMp schedule, intervals between cycles were 21 days instead of 28 days, bleomycin doses were reduced, small doses of prednisone were given orally, and the interval before RT was prolonged. RESULTS. Clinical response was complete in 96% of patients who were treated with VBM plus EF-RT and in 94% of patients who were treated with VbMp plus IF-RT. Recurrence rates were nearly identical (12% and 11%, respectively) over necessarily different follow-up (91 months and 33 months, respectively). Hematologic toxicity was tolerable in both trials, and pulmonary side effects were moderate in the first trial and negligible in the second. On the whole, treatment was tolerated better when RT followed chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS. The VBM regimen was confirmed to be effective in patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma. Administration of all cycles before RT improved tolerance; pulmonary toxicity probably is mitigated further by reduced bleomycin doses, mild prednisone therapy, and a more prolonged resting interval before RT. A slightly higher recurrence rate was expectable in the VBM plus IF-RT trial despite the actual intensification of vinblastine and methotrexate

Systemic risk and macroeconomic fat tails

We propose a mechanism for shock amplification that potentially can account for fat tails in the distribution of the growth rate of national output. We argue that extreme macroeconomic events, such as the Great Depression and the Great Recession, were preceded by significant turmoil in the banking system. We have developed a model of bank network formation and presented numerical simulations that show that, for the benchmark case, aggregate credit follows a random walk. When we introduce fire sales the model does not only produce larger variations in the growth of aggregate credit but also shows that there is an asymmetry between booms and busts that is also consistent with empirical evidence

Dementia and detectives: Alzheimer's disease in crime fiction

Fictional representations of dementia have burgeoned in recent years, and scholars have amply explored their double-edged capacity to promote tragic perspectives or normalising images of ‘living well’ with the condition. Yet to date, there has been only sparse consideration of the treatment afforded dementia within the genre of crime fiction. Focusing on two novels, Emma Healey’s Elizabeth is Missing and Alice LaPlante’s Turn of Mind, this article considers what it means in relation to the ethics of representation that these authors choose to cast as their amateur detective narrators women who have dementia. Analysing how their narrative portrayals frame the experience of living with dementia, it becomes apparent that features of the crime genre inflect the meanings conveyed. While aspects of the novels may reinforce problem-based discourses around dementia, in other respects they may spur meaningful reflection about it among the large readership of this genre

Long-term survival of stage I multiple myeloma given chemotherapy just after diagnosis or at progression of the disease: a multicentre randomized study

We conducted a randomized trial to evaluate whether melphalan-prednisone (MPH-P) treatment administered just after diagnosis improves survival of stage I multiple myeloma (MM). Between January 1987 and March 1993, 145 consecutive previously untreated patients with stage I MM were randomized between treatment with MPH-P (administered for 4 days every 6 weeks) just after diagnosis and treatment only at disease progression. Survival was not influenced by MPH-P treatment either administered just after diagnosis or at disease progression (64 vs 71 months respectively). Comparing the first with the second group the odds ratio of death is 1.17 (95% confidence interval 0.57–2.42;P = 0.64). Disease progression occurred within a year in about 50% of patients who were initially untreated. Response rate was similar in both groups, but duration of response was shorter in patients who were treated at disease progression (48 vs 79 months, P = 0.044). Patients actually treated at disease progression (34/70) survived shorter than those who had neither disease progression nor treatment (56 vs > 92 months;P = 0.005). Starting MPH-P just after diagnosis does not improve survival and response rate in stage I MM, with respect to deferring therapy until disease progression. However, patients with stage I MM randomized to have treatment delayed and who actually progressed and were treated had shorter survival than those with stable disease and no treatment. Biologic or other disease features could identify these subgroups of patients. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig